If you're heading out for a vacation or leaving your home for the winter, here's one item that should be on your checklist: mouse prevention. Every year, we find signs of rodent activity in some vacant homes we monitor. An empty house is the perfect environment for mice—it's quiet, warm, and undisturbed. Once they find a way in, they often invite the rest of the family! The good news? A little preparation before you leave can go a long way. Before You Leave • Remove food sour

Last week during one of our homewatch visits, we noticed a small bird flying over and crawling into a dryer vent on the side of a home. The vent was slightly open and there was no screen inside to stop it. After taking a closer look, we discovered there was a nest being built inside the vent. It’s always a little sad to interrupt nature—but unfortunately, this could have become a serious issue for the homeowner if left unnoticed while they were away on vacation. Blocked dryer

One of our Homewatch clients has been abroad for several months, and during a recent inspection I noticed their furnace wasn’t working. The homeowners asked if I could coordinate a visit with their HVAC company—happy to help. The technician arrived, repaired a faulty igniter, and restarted the furnace… only to immediately shut it back off. Then came the dreaded “Can you come take a look at this?” moment—similar to when your mechanic calls you under the car lift. Never a good